Cory Booker

Background on the candidate’s statements, positions, and record on diplomacy, global development, and America’s role the world

On U.S. global leadership:

A former mayor of Newark and current U.S. senator, Cory Booker has a track record of supporting robust American global leadership, stating “The tools that made us a world power – a strong economy, a strong military, robust diplomacy with strong allies, global development, and support for democracy – all must have a place in American strategy.”

Linking investments in global development to U.S. leadership in the world, he has stated that “Development helps secure America’s role as a world leader, stabilizes some of the most troubling and dangerous parts of the world, and fosters markets for American goods.”

On diplomacy, global development, and national security:

As the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on the State Department and USAID, Senator Booker has said, “From preventing pandemics to terrorism: investing in foreign aid makes America stronger, saves money, prevents future problems and is morally right.”

Highlighting the importance of engaging in developing countries, he has stated that “International development is one of the most important ways that we live up to America’s role as a force for good.”

Following a trip to Niger, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Burkina Faso, he said his travel was “an eye-opening testament to the vital economic, political and security assistance partnership between the U.S. and African countries.”

In recent months, he has co-chaired the CSIS Task Force on Humanitarian Access, saying“we must ensure that the most vulnerable are able to access life-saving resources, especially when there are government and non-state actors trying to block access to humanitarian relief.”

Booker has a strong record on the International Affairs Budget and has voted against amendments to cut resources for civilian overseas programs, saying “cutting so deeply into the State Department budget is a dangerous idea that undermines American diplomacy and risks more global conflict.”

In a bipartisan show of support for the International Affairs Budget, Booker joined with 41 other senators in a 2018 letter led by Senators Durbin and Young calling for robust funding for diplomacy and development.

Calling on the United States to “lead the world” in the fight against climate change, Booker has said that he will rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement and “refocus international aid toward clean technologies” In the developing world and “dramatically increase U.S. funding commitments to the UN Green Climate Fund.”

On global health:

Last year, Senator Booker co-authored a letter calling for the new Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region of Africa to “focus attention and resources on the containment of the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, which has been exacerbated by the conflict.”

On World AIDS Day 2018, he tweeted a call for the U.S. to “recommit to American leadership in the fight to #EndAIDS through @PEPFAR and the @GlobalFund.”

On global economic engagement:

As a former Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, Booker has highlighted the connection between development and advancing America’s economic interests, stating “Development helps the American economy as well… if our economy is going to grow, exports will be a big part of our success. Developing nations have the fastest growth and demand is high for the products that are being invented here in America.”

At the same time, he has expressed concerns about international trade deals, noting that “I think the global trade agreements that we have been in, we did not have a plan for factory workers in the Midwest, for small businesses in New Jersey. We did not account for how globalism was going to severely hurt people in America.”

On aid to the Northern Triangle:

Booker has pressed for more resources to address the root causes driving migration calling for “major investments in the Northern Triangle” instead of “ripping away the resources we need to actually solve this problem.”

On alliances:

Senator Booker has called for working with allies and multilateral organizations, saying “We know the importance of not only NATO, but the G7… We know in this world you need friends and we stand by our friends.”

He has campaigned on climate change as a global crisis in need of American leadership, saying “We came forward with the Marshall Plan. Our history is standing up and saying, ‘Look, humanity is in crisis, America is going to be the light and the hope.’”

Relevant Links

Recent Quotes

“By making major investments in the Northern Triangle not… ripping away the resources we need to actually solve this problem. We cannot surrender our values and think we will get border security.”

2020 Democratic President Debate in Miami – June 26, 2019

“My past week in Niger, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso has been an eye-opening testament to the vital economic, political and security assistance partnership between the U.S. and African countries.”

“Cutting so deeply into the State Department budget is a dangerous idea that undermines American diplomacy and risks more global conflict. Defense Secretary Mattis once said that ‘if you don’t fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition,’ and he’s right.”

Press Release – February 28, 2017

“International development is one of the most important ways that we live up to America’s role as a force for good. Foreign aid isn’t cutting a check to the government of another country.”

Cory Booker for U.S. Senate Web Site – 2014

“Development helps the American economy as well. Americans only make up about 4 percent of the world’s population, so if our economy is going to grow, exports will be a big part of our success. Developing nations have the fastest growth and demand is high for the products that are being invented here in America, from clean energy to affordable technology.”

Cory Booker for U.S. Senate Web Site – 2014

“Expanding the economic pie means creating strong ties with these developing nations. Rather than making these countries dependent on long-term foreign aid, we should focus on increasing trade with them. For example, in countries that don’t have legacy landline telephones, as we do in America, there are opportunities to invest in mobile data technology – creating jobs here and there.”

Cory Booker for U.S. Senate Web Site – 2014

“The tools that made us a world power – a strong economy, a strong military, robust diplomacy with strong allies, international development, and support for democracy – all must have a place in American strategy.”

Cory Booker for U.S. Senate Web Site – 2014

“International development efforts and foreign aid are essential to American national security. Development helps secure America’s role as a world leader, stabilizes some of the most troubling and dangerous parts of the world, and fosters markets for American goods. In short, as Secretary of State Kerry has said, foreign aid isn’t charity, it is strategy.”